moist an atmosphere, resulting in drip, and causing even the newly-formed foliage to spot. The fancy varieties are the most tender, and should not be exposed to very free circulations of air. Unless under very favourable circumstances, they will all require a little fire occasionally, in the day-time, to dry up damp; and a slight fumigation sometimes, to check the great enemy, green fly. The fancy varieties are such free flowerers as to be peculiarly well adapted for forcing; and such as are required for that purpose may have the incipient trusses retained; the rest, for later purposes, should have them frequently picked out, to strengthen the growth of the wood and foliage.

Conservatory.-The Camellias in this structure, particularly large permanent plants, will now be fast advancing into an abundant bloom, and for some time to come will be one of its grandest features. See that the plants are kept perfectly clean, and the roots well supplied with water, to which a little liquid manure should sometimes be added. Oranges, too, with their bright, cheerful-looking fruit, are very beautiful now. They require but little attention at this season. Watering at the roots, unless under very particular circumstances as to dryness, caused by the use of fire-heat in severe weather, must be entirely withheld for a month or two. Syringing must also be discontinued: care, however, must be had to keep the foliage quite clean and glossy. Lachenalias throwing up flower-stems should be kept near the glass. Gardoquia Hookerii, a very nice autumn-blooming plant for the Conservatory, may now be removed to the stove, and kept growing freely. Give a shift when started, and keep them well stopped and tied out as they adThe present is a good time to shift the different varieties of Kalosanthes; for, if left until the spring, it is likely to produce a fine growth, and but little bloom. Should frosty weather come on, take care that you have a good portion of your soils and composts turned over, and thrown up rough, or otherwise exposed to its very beneficial influences. See, too, that the bins under cover are kept full of soils in a state ready for use.

vance.

FORCING-HOUSES.

Vineries.-Early started Vines which are now beginning to make growth must have very careful attention. The night temperature should be raised gradually to 60 deg., with a tendency towards an increase as the Vines advance into bloom. The day temperature will much depend on external circumstances, but do not attempt more by fire heat than a range from 65 to 70 deg., with an abundance of air moisture, and a change of the interior air when practicable. Do not be in a hurry to disbud.

Cucumbers. As soon as the bed is made up, and the heat nicely rising, get in a first sowing; and beware of mice, which will often take possession at the same time as yourself. Keep the lights tilted, to let off the superabundant moisture; and let the coverings be regulated by the weather and interior temperature. You will find it a good plan to thatch the bed all round with long dry hay, which can be fastened on with pegs and rope yarn, or even haybands. FLOWER GARDEN.

One of the best preventives of the unsightly appearance of worm casts on lawns is constant rolling with a heavy iron roller immediately after rain, as it plugs up all their holes in a most effectual manner, and no doubt induces a new set of excavating operations before the holes are again open for traffic; it also consolidates the ground, and renders it much pleasanter for walking on. The same may be observed of gravel-walks, on which, as well as the grass, the broom and the roller must be constantly plied in open weather. When frosty, lose no time in wheeling out the composts, which should now be in a free pulverized state for adding to the beds and borders: some of the cleanest and best may be spread all over the borders containing herbaceous plants, which will help to protect them from inclement weather. Continue to trench up all vacant beds; and, as the leaves are now all down, commence forking over the outside shrubbery borders, in order to bury the leaves which always accumulate in such places, and take the opportunity to prune and regulate all shrubs requiring it as the operation of digging proceeds.-C.

EUGENE ST. GEORGE.

1. The 7 in the French word Avril is not sounded: the pronunciation is like Avriy', but the proper utterance of the terminal letter is only to be learned from the lips of a perfect Parisian.

2. The Earl you name, being the son of a Marquis, gains his title by courtesy; and his wife being the daughter of a Duke, in fact, takes higher rank than he. If he had married a lady of lower degree than himself she would be called a Countess by courtesy. The rule is that marriage never lowers the title of the woman, however much it may elevate it.

3. We will endeavour in future numbers to comply with your wishes respecting the toilette.

FRITZ.-Accepted; and shall appear in due

course.

MARGARET.-Your verses are not without merit and poetical fancy; but in thought, art, and mechanism, they are not quite up to our standard.

J. H. L.-The first part of the story seems likely to suit, but we should like to see the whole before making a final decision.

T. C.

1. The Spaniards, to the number of 4,000, landed upon the coast of Ireland, near Kinsale, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sept. 23, 1601. They were surprised in the night by the lord-deputy Mountjoy, who defeated them and compelled them to evacuate the kingdom. The Queen died about eighteen months afterwards.

2. Catherine I., Empress of Russia, is said to have died of drinking too much tokay, in the 39th year of her age. She was succeeded by Peter, the grandson of Peter the Great, in 1727.

CHAP. II.

BEDFORD-SQUARE.

About a week after the conversation recorded in the last chapter, the breakfast-bell of No. -, Bedford-square, summoned the family to their morning meal. A bright fire was blazing in the highly-polished grate; the crimson curtains cast a ruddy and genial glow over the room: portraits of the lord and lady of the mansion smiled in all the majesty of their lifelike proportions from the walls; a Turkey carpet covered the floor, and an elaborate repast was spread upon the table. The silver urn was bubbling and steaming; the muffins soaking in their covered dish, the eggs nestling lovingly amid the folds of a snow-white napkin, the delicately-tinted ham modestly confronting the savoury patê de Perigord, and the sideboard groaning beneath a costly display of plate. Moreover, beside the chair of the master of the house, an ample, high-backed, and well-stuffed chair of crimson morocco, was placed a salver containing several letters; while the Times newspaper, opened to its extremest dimensions, was airing upon the hearthrug within reach of his hand.

The room, in short, presented that perfect appearance of comfort so essentially and exclusively English, that the traveller in foreign lands can hope to see its like only in his dreams: nor was its character changed when Mr. Percival Lyle sauntered in, enveloped in a brocaded dressing-gown, girt about his waist by a cord and tassels, a pair of embroidered slippers, and a smoking-cap of purple velvet, worked with gold braid. As he entered he was whistling in an under tone an air from a popular opera, but it was evident that either his breath or his memory failed him; or-what appeared still more probable-that he was totally unconscious of his own attempt at melody.

Mr. Percival Lyle was a man of about forty, or it might be forty-five years of age. His eyes were sunken, and the palest of all pale blues; of that washy tint which may be seen in a China ucer held against the light. In moments of inaction, like that in which we present him to the reader, they were also as expressionless as

the saucer aforementioned; but such was far from being universally the case; for Mr. Percival Lyle was essentially a money-loving and a money-hunting personage. So deeply rooted, indeed, was his love of gain, that he may fairly be described as a perpetual victim to the yellow jaundice. He had married his wife for her money; cut his friends when they became poor; threatened his daughters from their very cradle with the most fabulous vengeance, should they venture to form an attachment for a needy suitor; and in short, fashioned his words, his moods, and all but his domestic and personal habits, so exclusively in conformity with his leading passion, that the applicant for his bounty might as rationally have anticipated an annuity as a single copper coin from his coatpocket. But Mr. Percival Lyle was nevertheless a respectable man, a very respectable man; all the more respectable, for aught that we know, because unlike the thriftless individuals who suffer themselves to be beguiled out of a stray shilling by the tears and entreaties of a famished mother, pleading for her almost naked children by the wayside-for there are blank, and weary, and despairing waysides, even in money-making London for those who have no capital to trade upon-he disdained to loosen a button, or to draw off a glove, in order to hush a sigh, or to bind up a broken heart.

There are respectable men of this stamp in every great city.

To revert, however, to the light blue eyes of Mr. Percival Lyle. We are bound to admit that they could occasionally redeem themselves from the meaningless blank of utter inanity, and light up with fierce bright fires; although, like a December sun, they glittered without giving warmth. The prospect of a good speculation, the hope of circumventing a rival speculator, the chance of a snug profit-all these incentives lent an extraordinary and life-like brilliancy to the diminutive orbs, which, from some strange accident of blood or race, were overarched with hanging brows like those of his uncle; but beyond this trivial feature, there was no resemblance between the sarcastic, although high-hearted Reginald Lyle, and his smoothspoken, but egotistical nephew. The dark hair

F